The Purple Onion Cafe

I’ve always had great service whenever I visit. The food and desserts are amazing! I LOVE the fresh salads! If only they were open for dinner as well.

Love the Purple Onion! Can we give them 6 stars? Great breakfast and lunch with outstanding pastries. Oh and don’t worry if there is a line, we got in to eat fairly quickly even with it slammed.
The blueberry biscuit although greatly raved about, I’m not a fan. To me it just tastes like a biscuit with a bunch of blueberries shoved in it. Take my word skip that and get the pastries because they are superb. The Big Onion breakfast is great for us bigger guys or for a couple wanting to share.
My tip get one of each of the pastries, then you can try them all! Haha

Very good casual little spot !! We were on our way home from the beach and stopped for breakfast … Would go back !

The Classic Hamburger was good. The Shrimp Burger was good, after I got rid of the mediocre seeded bun. I was looking forward to trying the Key Like Tartar Sauce, but it seemed more like jalapeños in mayonnaise to me.

OMG if you haven’t eat’n here you’re missing out. You may have to wait but it’s well worth it!

Amazing spot! I have been here many times but this was the first time going with my spouse. We both loved our meals. Super affordable and such a cute little spot. There was a line to wait when we left, but that just means they’re worth it! Great bakery and many menu choices.

Great breakfast. Be prepared to queue for a table. Great baked goods.

Affordable. Friendly. Enough food for two meals! Only open part of the day– not open for dinner. Pastries looked amazing but we were too full to try.

One of the best restaurants in Brunswick County, NC, if you love Coconut Cream Pie — THIS is the place! They have a wonderful desert selection, bakery counter, excellent salads, soups, sandwiches and really great food! I don’t eat out often and dining here is special.

We stopped here on our way out of Ocean Isle Beach. Excellent food and service! We had the Greek salad with grilled Portobello mushroom and Ruben sandwich with onion rings. We will definitely visit again when we are in the area.

Love the Purple Onion!!! If you are in the area — stop by! The Fried Green Tomatoes were the bomb! My husband loved the ½ pound burgers!

Great place, featured in Our State’s article about must-​try breakfast spots. During the summer season, go early. There’s always a crowd!
Large and varied menu with something for everyone. Vegetarian, Carnivore, Foodie,
.
Don’t think, just go!

Went here for breakfast with the family and was disappointed. With all the signage thought I was going to enjoy a grand breakfast. What I got was below average coffee in a dirty mug, what tasted like instant grits, with mediocre eggs Benedict and over cooked bacon. My wife got one biscuit smothered in cold sausage gravy with a fruit bowl that looked like it came straight from the can. The service was good and baked goods looked fine but the breakfast didn’t seem any better and maybe a little worse than all the other places in the area.

Food was very tasty. Got spinach and feta omelette, potatoes, bacon, rye toast. All were honestly cooked to perfection. Good portion sizes, friendly and respectful service, decent environment seems clean. Only downside is the wait fort breakfast, and a mistake in a breakfast order in our party of 8

Great burger after a long night of drinking for a friend’s wedding. Definitely was that greasy goodness needed to kick start the battery for the next day. A mom and pop shop with home made bread, desserts, and quality food. Place was poppin’ too when we visited, so it’s obviously not a secret in Shallotte!

Delicious fried green tomato sandwich with bacon & lettuce on your choice of home baked bread.

Had the crabcake sandwich on sourdough with homemade chips + ranch. Excellent! The cilantro-​lime tartar sauce complemented the crabcake perfectly. Chips were good. The family had the brisket sandwich, burger, and roast beef sandwich, all of which they enjoyed.
For dessert, we split an apple strudel and a slice of chocolate peanut butter cake. Delightful. Will be coming back in the morning for breakfast before heading home!

Just a mile off the main highway, I was cruising Unilocal for a lunch spot on my road trip home and found the place. For a Unilocaler, a foodie, and traveler, the reviews seem to be exactly what I was looking for in a truly local gem.
My overall impression– greasy spoon diner with a fantastic bakery. It’s really the bakery that makes this place awesome. The food is actually mediocre. From the menu I ordered fried green tomatoes (from frozen?!) and a steak sandwich. I ordered the sand which like a patty melt and unfortunately it came out completely wrong. In a steady attempt to not make lunch any longer than I have to, I kept my plate. I found the steak to be unseasoned and over cooked. Meh.
My eating partner got the burger with lots of cheese.
The star of the meal was really the onion jam served with the fried green tomatoes and the blueberry biscuit. Move out the way Bojangles, this might have been the best biscuit ever!
All in all. I’d come back for some tea and something from the bakery. I’m confused why the menu food items were ranked so high. Its not a foodie approved menu in my opinion. Regardless. The place is packed with loyal locals which speaks to the power of locals on its impact of business. Good job community! I love supporting local. Hope they step the food business up!

Never heard of this place. Went it and was crowded. Asked the waitress about the grilled chicken Caesar said stay away the dressing isn’t made fresh. Made me nervous but I saw the food coming out and everything looked wonderful. Had the grilled chicken salad. Plenty there. Well worth the money. Note the wait is long. Worth it but plan ahead

Great local café!
We stopped by here for lunch. It was crowded and the service was very attentive. We ordered the fried green tomato appetizer, tuna salad, and cantaloupe chicken salad. Everything was delicious. The fried green tomatoes came with purple onion jam… omg good. The tuna contained bits of purple onion and bell peppers, and the chicken salad came in a half cantaloupe which was ripe and awesome. Finally, we ordered a blueberry biscuit to go. That was tasty as well. Will definitely return on our next visit to the Sunset Beach area.